Think of this primer as that one friend who shows up early and makes everything run smoother—except it’s for your face. Packed with soothing anthemis nobilis (that’s chamomile, for us non-botanists) and hydrolyzed collagen, it’s the kind of prep your skin craves before foundation. It blurs out pores, evens out skin tone and softens fine lines without that slippery feel. The texture? Lightweight and non-greasy, so it sinks in fast and leaves you with a matte-but-never-flat canvas.

This silicone-free formula skips the slip and slide; and instead offers a grip that holds your makeup down and makes your pores look like they took the day off. It’s packed with high-performing ingredients like milk thistle (an antioxidant hero that keeps dryness and irritation at bay) and glycerin that promises intense hydration. Think smoother skin, zero pilling and makeup that lasts beyond your second coffee. It’s one of those rare finds that feels as good as it looks.

This pore-defying primer might be the hero your routine’s been missing. It goes on clear, feels like nothing and is loaded with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. It’s basically skincare that moonlights as a primer. It leaves your skin smooth and conditioned, that’s ready for whatever comes next. Plus, it plays nice with all skin types.

There are primers and then there’s this primer. Kevyn Aucoin’s The Sensual Skin Primer feels like a tall glass of water for your face—thank you, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera—with just enough vitamin E to make your skin feel protected. The texture? A bouncy gel that melts in, leaving behind a soft-focus blur that makes pores politely disappear. It’s the kind of base that doesn’t just prep, but elevates. Your makeup stays put, looks smoother and feels better all day. One swipe and you’ll get the hype.

If your foundation tends to cling to dry patches or disappear by lunchtime, meet your new pre-makeup MVP: the Maybelline New York Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Primer. This one’s got a glazed-skin energy, thanks to vitamin E that will leave your skin hydrated. It goes on like silk, smooths out any roughness and sets the stage for a luminous, second-skin finish that actually lasts. Bonus: it holds up for a full 12 hours without requiring any touch-ups. Just glide it on before your foundation and let the glow do the talking.

We’re all about skincare that works hard under your makeup and Benefit’s Porefessional Matte Primer nails it. It’s infused with niacinamide and rose hip extract, which means it doesn’t just blur pores, it also helps care for them over time. It has a smooth texture; plus, it controls shine and leaves a velvety finish that keeps your look intact for hours. This one brings serious staying power without the heaviness. Bonus: it feels so good going on, you’ll want to use it even on no-makeup days.

Let’s be honest, poreless skin is more myth than reality. But this primer gets impressively close. It’s a twist-up primer stick (read: mess-free and travel-ready) that melts into skin and gives you a ‘blurry camera lens’ finish on contact. We love that it plays nice both under and over makeup, especially when the T-zone issues rise up. It absorbs oil like a pro and leaves behind a velvety matte feel that doesn’t cling or cake. If you’re after skin that looks smooth without screaming “I’m wearing primer!”—this one’s worth a spot in your rotation.

Okay, so here’s the deal: we tried the Innisfree No-Sebum Blur Primer and now we get it. Our pores were blurred; and shine was cancelled. But it still feels like skin, not a chalky layer sitting on top. It goes on creamy, melts in and makes everything look better. And yes, it’s 25 ml of chill, soft-matte goodness that doesn’t dry you out.

Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Blurring Primer is the kind of backstage essential that pros keep in rotation—and for good reason. This oil-free formula keeps shine in check for up to 16 hours (yes, even through humid rides and impromptu happy hours). It creates a smooth, soft-focus finish we usually associate with filters—except it’s happening IRL. Besides, it wears beautifully under makeup and somehow makes it stay put longer, too. If you’ve been dealing with large pores or midday slick, this might just be your new skin-prep MVP.

Smashbox did their homework. The primer is infused with 3.5% glycolic acid, which gently evens out the base while you prime. Translation: smoother texture, less dullness and your skin won’t feel like it’s been zapped by a desert wind. It also wears like a second skin under makeup—glassy but breathable. And we love a primer that multitasks: this one also packs Smashbox’s signature Silkscreen complex to shield against environmental grime.